The Time Meddler (and S1/S2 Oscars)

The Time Meddler (part 1)

The first Doctor Who episode without William Russell or Jackie Hill. Will we be able to cope?

The Doctor and Vicki talk about how much they'll miss the school teachers, and William Hartnell gives a sigh as if to acknowledge he is the last original left standing. The Doctor is worried Vicki might want to leave too, but she keeps getting distracted and talking about other stuff. Oh that Vicki!

DOCTOR: I just wanted to ask you, are you sure you didn't want to go home too? I didn't give you very much time to consider now, did I? I should hate to think that you're just staying for the sake of an old man.
VICKI: Oh, Doctor! I made my decision. I wanted to stay.
(all quotes come with thanks from the Doctor Who Transcripts Page)

But then, a rattle from beyond the doors. A Dalek got on the ship? Hartnell flickers a worried look.

Bond Henchmen Ranked!

 Some thought it would never happens. Others talked of mirages. But no, a mere seven years after I first mentioned a countdown of James Bond Henchmen "soon to be written", it actually exists. I'd like to thank Calvin Dyson and Being James Bond's channels for inspiring me to dust off what I'd started and actually finish it. (I have around 200 unfinished projects in a folder delayed by parenthood, and, to be more accurate, magpieitis!) 

So yes, James Bond. There's a new film coming out, allegedly soon, and it's the 25th in the series. No better a time than glance back over 59 years (I should have delayed it another year and assumed the same would happen to No Time To Die, really) of James Bond. Having asked ourselves once what the great Bond themes were, now we can ask: who were our greatest Bond villain's henchmen. For as the series proves, behind every bad man lies an often much more effective bad guy. Or gal. 

The Chase

The Chase (episode 1)

We are reminded that the Daleks now have time travel and are after the Doctor and friends. This is followed by music far too jaunty for the occasion, and the Doctor whistling as he fixes things in the TARDIS. He then tells off Vicki for joining in.

Ian is reading a book called "Monsters from Outer Space" and calls it far-fetched. We are in Terry Nation jokes land.

"I am a useless person," says Vicki who sits on a seat which collapses onto Barbara's project. The much vaunted Terry Nation character writing skills on display here as he waits anxiously to get his pepperpots into action.

WWE recap (9th-12th July 2021)

 Smackdown 9th July 2021

We open with Roman Reigns giving a long promo where he reunites Jimmy and Jey Uso. Yes, it was good, but it was treading water with the same sort of Reigns speech we've heard for the past few months.

Nakamura beats Sad News Corbin to qualify for the Money in the Bank match. Corbin looked sad. Rick Boogs now owns Corbin's car.

The Space Museum

The Space Museum (part 1)

The TARDIS console freezes then moves in slow motion as the regulars are frozen in place around it and the screen goes blank.

We see a bunch of dead spaceships and an old fort building.

The TARDIS lands against a rocky backdrop.

The Smackdown and RAW recap (2nd and 5th July 2021)

 You know, ever since I started doing this, RAW has gone from 1 good episode in 6 months to 3 good episodes in 6 weeks. Though how long that jinx can last if they keep firing all their wrestlers is open for debate.

Smackdown 2nd July 2021

Edge started Smackdown with an in-ring promo where he challenged Roman Reigns to face him in the ring later that night. After his comeback the week previous, Edge is now the number one contender, because Hall of Famers dont need to win no stinkin' contendership matches.

WWE Round up (25th June -28th June)

 Smackdown 25th June 2021

Smackdown starts with Roman Reigns complaining that Jey Uso isn't around, and being clearly unhappy that Jimmy Uso is.

Bianca gives an in-ring promo about beating Bayley in a Hell in a Cell match. Seth Rollins interrupts, and this leads to a mixed tag match. Rollins and Bayley beat Cesaro and Bianca in a feisty (but limited) mixed tag when Bayley beat Bianca, because WWE just fired most of the women so these two have to fight forever. The issue with WWE mixed tag matches is that if a tag means the other person has to come into the match (men and women aren't allowed to fight) then there is no point in it being a tag match.

The Crusade

 

The Crusade (episode 1)

Ah, even after a weaker story there's nothing quite like the Dr Who theme to get your mood up.

Some men with swords hunt through a forest, with other men stalking them. The TARDIS lands silently in the middle of this as the tense music grows. Already this has more jeopardy to it than Web Planet and nothing has happened.

It's Julian Glover! What an actor. He's speaking in iambic pentameter too and tells us we are in Jaffa and he's taking on Saladin. So its Richard the Lionheart.

RAW qualifying for a bank (21/6/2021)

 Post-PPV show so results, out of a kindness, go after the advert and the break...

Smackdown IN A CELL (18th June 2021)

 We discover that the PPV World title match between Roman Reigns and challenger Rey Mysterio will now take place on Smackdown.

Rey gives a solid promo about respecting family and hypocrisy. Reigns shows up and tries to get Rey to cancel the match, which Rey refuses to do. Quote Roman: "I tried to be diplomatic, now we're doing it my way..."

Apollo Crews and Commander Azeez beat Kevin Owens and Big "slumming it in this programme" E, when Azeez, who is very, very green, beat both semi main eventers up and pinned Owens with a distraction aide from Sami Zayn. So yes, once again Luigi Wins by Doing Absolutely Nothing. The former Dabbo Kato is very inexperienced and it showed.

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Interview: Only Connect contestant Stuart Wildig

 

As I get older, I’ve become a far bigger quiz/game show fan. I remember when I was a small child, I would sit next to Gran, as she indulged her Countdown addiction, and tried to play along. “Dog”, “Cat” were my usual offerings from the 9 letters on display, and weirdly for someone who became a writer, I found the numbers round far easier. In fact, I still do! Nowadays, its great fun watching Pointless or The Chase or The Answer Trap (it was great, recommission it, Channel 4!) alike and answering all the questions the poor contestant misses, knowing fine well there’s a difference between the living room sofa and the glare of the studio lights! I’ve even started getting Sarah into quiz shows (she loved The Wheel, which meant I had to tape and watch repeatedly a Michael McIntyre show) and she even helped vote in the last UK Gameshow Poll of the Year. Did you notice The Floor is Lava drew for 5th place in the new media category? That’s Sarah, as is the anonymous “wean” who tried to repeat all the courses in our house during lockdown.

Despite a lasting interest in the quiz show, I’ve never felt able to bite the bullet and apply to go on one, to put my chatter brain where my money would be, if I had any spare.